Medical product, and a method of sterilizing a medical product

ABSTRACT

A medical product is configured for use in a medical system. A method is provided for sterilizing the product. A connector connects a first subsystem and a second subsystem, containing a medical fluid, for transport of the medical fluid from the second subsystem to the first subsystem. The connector comprises a valve device, a first connection pipe connected to the first subsystem, and a second connection pipe connected to the second subsystem. The valve device comprises a first part and a second part movable relative to each other to permit an opening movement from a closed stable position, which prevents a fluid communication between the connection pipes, to an open position, which establishes a channel permitting the fluid communication. The connector comprises at least one small passage permitting, in the closed stable position, an introduction of a sterilizing gas to contact wall surfaces defining the channel.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a National Phase application based onPCT/SE2008/050253 filed Mar. 7, 2008, which claims the priority ofSwedish Patent Application No. 0700621-6, filed Mar. 12, 2007, andclaims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/894,323, filedMar. 12, 2007, the content of all of which is incorporated herein byreference.

THE TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention refers to a medical product and to a method ofsterilizing a medical product.

In the medical field, there are numerous situations where a medicalfluid is to be transported from one subsystem to another subsystemduring sterile conditions for preventing contamination of the medicalfluid or any one of the subsystems. In a first possible application ofthe present invention, the first subsystem may be a system for supplyinginfusion liquid to the blood system of a patient. A second applicationof the present invention may include the transfer of blood products orthe transfer of blood from the blood system of an individual to theblood system of another individual, either directly between theindividual or via any system for storing blood. Further applications ofthe present invention may include any supply of other medical fluidsinto the body of an individual. A common aspect of these applications isthat one of the subsystems is a biological system, such as the bloodsystem of an individual. However, the present invention is alsoapplicable to the transport of a medical fluid between twonon-biological subsystems, for instance during the manufacture,cleaning, processing or treating of medical fluids.

In the following, the present invention will be described in connectionwith a further important application of the invention, namely dialysis.However, the invention is not restricted to this application, but may beapplied to other fields as defined above.

There are various dialysis therapies used today. One differs betweenextracorporeal dialysis, such as hemodialysis and intensive caredialysis, and intracorporeal dialysis, such as peritoneal dialysis.

During a dialysis treatment, a medical fluid, i.e. a dialysis liquid, isused. The dialysis liquid may be contained in a container, which isconnected directly to the patient in intracorporeal dialysis or to adialysis apparatus in extracorporeal dialysis, via a so-calledconnector. Typically, the connector is connected to the container,directly or indirectly via a line. The container may be manufactured ina flexible material, preferably a plastic material. Before use theconnector is closed by means of a frangible pin arranged in the flowpassage of the connector and preventing a flow of the medical fluid fromthe container through the connector. Such a container including afrangible pin is disclosed in WO 2005/117802. When the medical fluid isto be used, the connector is connected to the patient or the dialysisapparatus via a line. The frangible pin is then removed by being brokenoff. A disadvantage of this known connector design is that the connectordoes not permit closing of the fluid communication once the connectorhas been opened, e.g. if medical fluid remains after the dialysistreatment has been finished or if the dialysis treatment is interruptedin advance for any reason. Another disadvantage is that the breaking ofthe frangible pin could be experienced as difficult for certain users,e.g. patients with a poor health condition. A further disadvantage ofthe prior art solutions is the possibility of obtaining a sterilizationof the medical product and the connector in an efficient manner.

EP-B-28601 shows a slide valve and a coupler assembly for medicalapplications, such as peritoneal dialysis applications and collection ofurine. The slide valve comprises a valve housing forming a fluidpassage. A cylinder with a piston is arranged transversally to the fluidpassage. The piston is movable in the cylinder between a closed positionand an open position. Some provisions are made for sterilizing the slidevalve.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,431,424 discloses a slide valve for medicalapplications. A disinfectant is supplied to the interior of the valvebefore the valve is connected to a coupling element.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to remedy the disadvantagesmentioned above. A further object is to provide a medical product, whichpermits sterilization in an easy and efficient manner. A further objectis to provide a method of sterilizing a medical product.

This object is achieved by the medical product initially defined, whichis characterized in that the connector comprises at least one smallpassage permitting, in the closed stable position, an introduction of asterilizing gas in such a way that the sterilizing gas will contact wallsurfaces defining the channel. By means of such a small passage or smallpassages, the wall surfaces defining the channel in the interior of theconnector may, in a convenient manner, be sterilized before use of themedical product, for instance during an autoclaving process.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the at least one smallpassage comprises a sterilizing groove formed in one of the first partand the second part and extending to an interior at least partly definedby said wall surfaces. Such a groove may be very thin, with a diameterof less than 0.5 mm, to permit introduction of sterilizing gas.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the medical productcomprises a cover element attachable to the first connection pipe forprotecting an interior of the first connection pipe, wherein the coverelement is removable before the first connection pipe is connected tothe first connection portion of the first subsystem. Such a coverelement may protect the interior of the first connection pipe from dustor other particles in the environment. Advantageously, the at least onesmall passage may then comprise an aperture extending through the coverelement for enabling introduction of the sterilizing gas into aninterior of the first connection pipe. Such an aperture may be verythin, with a diameter of less than 0.5 mm, to permit introduction ofsterilizing gas but prevent introduction of dust or other particles fromthe environment.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the second subsystemcomprises a container containing the medical fluid, wherein thecontainer is comprised by the medical product and connected to thesecond connection pipe of the connector. The container and the connectormay be sterilized during a common process, such as an autoclavingprocess.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the first partcomprises a housing, through which the channel extends and whichcomprises a cylinder forming an inner chamber extending transversally toand crossing the channel, wherein the second part comprises a piston,which is movable in the inner chamber between the closed stable positionclosing the channel and the open stable position, in which the channelis open by means of a recess in the piston. Such a valve device can behandled in a convenient manner by a user, such as a patient, by movingthe piston of the second part after changing of the state of theblocking member. Advantageously, the at least one small passage may thencomprise a sterilizing groove formed in one of an inner wall of thecylinder and an outer surface of the piston and extending to the recesswhen the piston is in the closed stable position.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the cylinder has aprimary end and a secondary end and the piston may have a primary endand a secondary end, wherein the primary end of the piston protrudesfrom the primary end of the cylinder in the closed stable position andwherein the secondary end of the piston protrudes from the secondary endof the cylinder in the open stable position. Advantageously, thesterilizing groove of the small passage may extend from the primary endof the cylinder to the recess.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the piston has aprimary end portion, which is provided at the primary end of the pistonand which is configured to prevent the primary end of the piston fromentering the inner chamber of the cylinder, and a secondary end portion,which is provided at the secondary end of the piston and which isconfigured to prevent the secondary end of the piston from entering theinner chamber of the cylinder.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the piston ismanufactured in a piston material and the cylinder in a cylindermaterial, wherein the piston material is softer than the cylindermaterial. Such a relatively soft material will function as sealing meanshaving a sealing effect and thus contribute to a tight abutment betweenthe inner wall of the cylinder and the outer surface of the piston. Insuch a way leakage of the medical fluid is prevented. In addition, thepiston may be provided with further sealing means in order to provide atight sealing against an inner wall of the cylinder. Such furthersealing means may then comprise at least one ridge extending outwardlyfrom an outer surface of the piston and around an outer periphery of thepiston. Such a ridge, for instance of the above-mentioned relativelysoft material, will ensure a tight abutment against the inner wall ofthe cylinder.

The object is also achieved by the method initially defined, which ischaracterized by the steps of: providing the medical product with thevalve device in the closed stable position; introducing the medicalproduct in a space in a vessel; and introducing sterilizing gas into thespace and into to connector to contact wall surfaces defining thechannel via at least one small passage. Preferably, the method comprisesalso the preparing step of filling the container with the medicalproduct.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is now to be explained more closely by thedescription, by way of example only, of various embodiments and withreference to the drawings attached hereto.

FIG. 1 discloses schematically an example of a first medical system.

FIG. 2 discloses schematically an example of a second medical system.

FIG. 3 discloses a side view of a connector of a medical productaccording to a first embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 discloses a sectional view along the line IV-IV in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 discloses a sectional view of a first part of the connector inFIG. 4.

FIG. 6 discloses a side view of an end portion of a second part of theconnector in FIG. 3.

FIG. 7 discloses a side view of a piston of a second part of theconnector in FIG. 3.

FIG. 8 discloses a side view of a connector of a medical productaccording to a second embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 9 discloses another side view of the connector in FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 discloses a top view of the connector in FIG. 8 in a closedstable position.

FIG. 11 discloses a sectional view along the line XI-XI in FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 discloses a sectional view through a first part of the connectoralong the line XII-XII in FIG. 10.

FIG. 13 discloses a top view of the connector in FIG. 8 in an openstable position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF VARIOUS EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 discloses a medical system which illustrates schematicallyintracorporeal dialysis care, such as peritoneal dialysis, and comprisesa first subsystem 1 having a first connection portion 1 a and a secondsubsystem 2 having a second connection portion 2 a. In FIG. 1, the firstsubsystem 1 comprises a patient p, whereas the second subsystem 2comprises a container 3 with a medical fluid in the form of a dialysisliquid. The first connection portion 1 a of the first subsystem 1 isconnected to the second connection portion 2 a of the second subsystem 2via a connector 4 in order to permit transport of the medical fluid fromthe second subsystem 2, in this example the container 3, to the firstsubsystem 1, in this example the patient p. The first connection portionla comprises a flexible line with an appropriate connection memberadapted to be connected to the connector 4. The second connectionportion 2 a also comprises a flexible line with an appropriateconnection member adapted to be connected to the connector 4. A medicalproduct is constituted by the connector 4 and the second subsystem 2. Amedical product may also be constituted by the connector 4 only.

FIG. 2 discloses another medical subsystem which illustratesschematically extracorporeal dialysis, such as hemodialysis care oracute renal care dialysis, hemodialysis and differs from the firstmedical system in that the first system 1 comprises a dialysis apparatus5 to which a patient p is connected, and that the blood is treatedextracorporeally.

The connector 4 will be described more closely below in conjunction withthe description of the various embodiments. Generally, the connector 4comprises a valve device 10, a first connection pipe 11 and a secondconnection pipe 12. The first connection pipe 11 is connected to thevalve device 10 and configured to be connected to the first connectionportion 1 a of the first subsystem, in the example disclosed to the lineand the connection member of the first connection portion 1 a. Thesecond connection pipe 12 is connected to the valve device 10 and is, orconfigured to be, connected directly to the container 3 or indirectly tothe container 3 via the second connection portion 2 a of the secondsubsystem 2, in the example disclosed to the line and the connectionmember of the second connection portion 2 a.

With reference to FIGS. 3 to 7, a first embodiment is to be described.FIGS. 3 and 4 discloses the connector 4 with the valve device 10, thefirst connection pipe 11 and the second connection pipe 12. The valvedevice 10 comprises a first part 21 and a second part 22. Described in ageneral manner, the first part 21 and the second part 22 are movable inrelation to each other to permit an opening movement from a closedstable position, preventing fluid communication with the firstconnection pipe 11 and the second connection pipe 12, see FIG. 4, and anopen stable position, forming a channel 23, which is defined by innerwall surfaces belonging to the first part 21 and the second part 22,respectively. The channel 23 permits fluid communication between thefirst connection pipe 11 and the second connection pipe 12.

More specifically, in the first embodiment the first part 21 and thesecond part 22 are movable in relation to each other along alongitudinal axis x. The first part 21 comprises a housing 25 throughwhich the channel 23 extends, see FIG. 5. The housing 25 comprises acylinder 26 forming an inner chamber 27 which extends along thelongitudinal axis x transversally to and crossing the channel 23. Thesecond part 22 comprises a piston 28, which is movable in the innerchamber 27 of the cylinder 26 between the closed stable position closingthe channel 23 and the open stable position in which the channel 23 isopen by means of a recess 29 in the piston 28, see also FIGS. 6 and 7.In the first embodiment disclosed, the recess 29 is formed by a grooveextending around the periphery of the outer surface of the piston 28.The recess 29 may however also have a different shape, for instance as acavity or a hole extending through the piston 28.

The cylinder 26 has a primary end 26′ and a secondary end 26″. Thepiston 28 has a primary end 28′ and a secondary end 28″. In the closedstable position shown in FIG. 4, the primary end 28′ of the piston 28protrudes from the primary end 26′ of the cylinder 26. In the openstable position, the secondary end 28″ of the piston 28 protrudes fromthe secondary end 26″ of the cylinder 26.

Furthermore, the piston 28 has a primary end portion 31, which isprovided at the primary end 28′ of the piston 28. The primary endportion 31 comprises a flange preventing the primary end 28′ fromentering the inner chamber 27 of the cylinder 26. The piston 28 also hasa secondary end portion 32, which is provided at the secondary end 28″of the piston 28. The secondary end portion 32 comprises a flangepreventing the secondary end 28″ of the piston 28 from entering theinner chamber 27 of the cylinder 26.

As can be seen from FIG. 4, the primary end portion 31 is formed by aseparate part which is introduced into an inner space of the piston 28and attached to the piston 28 in the inner space by means of a hookconnection 33, see also FIGS. 6 and 7. In FIGS. 6 and 7, the two partsare separated from each other, i.e. before mounting of the valve device10.

The piston 28, at least the part comprising the secondary end portion32, is manufactured in a piston material and the cylinder 26 in acylinder material. The piston material is softer then the cylindermaterial in order to improve the sealing between the outer surface ofthe piston 28 and the inner wall of the cylinder 26. As can be seen fromespecially FIGS. 6 and 7, the piston 28 is provided with further sealingmeans in order to provide a tight sealing against an inner wall of thecylinder 26. This further sealing means comprises three ridges 37extending outwardly from the outer surface of the piston 28 and aroundan outer periphery of the piston 28. In the first embodiment disclosed,two of the ridges 37 are provided between the recess 29 and thesecondary end 28″ of the piston 28, and one ridge 37 is provided betweenthe recess 29 and the primary end 28′ of the piston 28.

As can be seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, the connector 4 also comprises a coverelement 35, which is attached to the first connection pipe 11 forprotecting the interior of the first connection pipe 11. The coverelement 35 is attached to the first connection pipe 11 in a removablemanner by means of a thread on the outer surface of the first connectionpipe 11 and a corresponding thread on the inner surface of the coverelement 35. The cover element 35 is removed from the first connectionpipe 11 by being unscrewed before the first connection pipe 11 isconnected to the first connection portion la of the first subsystem 1.

The connector 4 also comprises a blocking member 38. The blocking member38 is, in a blocking state, configured to prevent the opening movementfrom the closed stable position to the open stable position.Furthermore, the blocking member 38 is configured to permit changing ofthe blocking state of the blocking member 38 to a non-blocking statepermitting the opening movement from the closed stable position to theopen stable position. The blocking member 38 is provided on the valvedevice 10, and in the first embodiment on the piston 28 at the primaryend 28′ of the piston 28, and more specifically between the primary end26′ of the cylinder 26 and the primary end portion 31 of the piston 28.In the first embodiment, the blocking member 38 is configured as aremovable ring extending around a main part of the periphery of thepiston 28 at the primary end 28′. The blocking member 38, e.g. the ring,is attached to the piston 28 via a breakable attachment 39. Thebreakable attachment 39 may be obtained by one or several thin, weakenedconnecting strips.

The blocking member 38 is thus configured to permit the changing of theblocking state of the blocking member 38 to the non-blocking state by auser applying a determined force to the blocking member 38. In the firstembodiment, this force is applied, as a pulling force, to a flap 40 ofthe blocking member 38 protruding outwardly from the blocking member 38.The user thus pulls the flap 40 whereby the pulling force applied willbreak the breakable attachment 39, in an irreversible manner, and removethe blocking member 38 from the piston 28. After this changing of theblocking state of the blocking member 38, the piston 28 may be movedalong the longitudinal axis x from the closed stable position, disclosedin FIG. 4, to an open position in which the recess 29 establishes thechannel 23 permitting fluid communication from the second connectionpipe 12 to the first connection pipe 11, or possible vice versa.

It is to be noted here, that the first part 21, comprising the cylinder26, and the second part 22, comprising the piston 28, are configured toremain in the open stable position when the open stable position hasbeen obtained, i.e. after the opening movement along the longitudinalaxis x. However, it is also to be noted that the first part 21,comprising the cylinder 26, and the second part 22, comprising thepiston 28, in the non-blocking state of the blocking member 38, aremoveable by a user applying a determined force in order to permit aclosing movement from the open stable position back to the closed stableposition disclosed in FIG. 4. After this closing movement, the removedblocking member 38 will serve as an indication to the user or any otherperson involved, that the connector 4 or the medical product may oncehave been used. For instance, a part of the medical fluid contained inthe container 3 may have been used and the remaining part of the medicalfluid may then be intended for waste or for use at a later occasion,preferably within a prescribed time limit. Even if the blocking member38, e.g. in the form of a ring, for any reason is reattached onto thepiston 28, the user may still observe that the medical product has beenused thanks to the broken breakable attachment 39.

The connector 4 also comprises a number of small passages 41, 42, 43permitting, in the closed stable position, an introduction of asterilizing gas to an interior of the connector 4 in such a way that thesterilizing gas will contact the inner wall surfaces defining thechannel 23. These small passages 41, 42, 43 thus enable sterilization ofthe connector 4 before use, i.e. before the blocking state of theblocking member 38 has been changed. Especially, it is to be noted thatthe connector 4 could be sterilized together with the container 3 andthe optional second connection portion 2 a, for instance during anautoclaving process. During the autoclaving process, sterilizing gas isthus permitted to enter the interior of the connector 4 through thesmall passages 41, 42, 43.

One such small passage 41 comprises a small aperture or slit extendingthrough the cover element 35 for enabling introduction of thesterilizing gas into the interior of the first connection pipe 11.Consequently, the inner wall surface of the first connection pipe 11 anda part of the outer surface of the piston 28 will thus be subjected tothe sterilizing gas.

Two further small passages 42, 43 comprises a respective sterilizinggroove formed in the inner wall surface of the cylinder 26 and extendingfrom the primary end 26′ of the cylinder 26 and the secondary end 26″ ofthe cylinder 26, respectively. As can be seen in FIG. 4, the sterilizinggroove of the small passage 42 extends between the primary end 26′ ofthe cylinder 26 and the recess 29. Consequently, sterilizing gas can beintroduced into the interior of the connector 4, i.e. into the cavityformed by the recess 29 and thus subject all surfaces of this cavity tothe sterilizing gas. The sterilizing groove of the small passage 43 isprovided for symmetry reasons, see FIG. 5, i.e. during manufacturing thepiston 28 may be introduced through either of the primary end 26′ or thesecondary end 26″ of the cylinder 26. It should be noted that instead ofproviding the sterilizing grooves in the inner wall surface of thecylinder 26, corresponding grooves can be made in the outer surface ofthe piston 28.

The manufacturing of the medical product, including the container 3 andthe connector 4, may be performed by filling the container with amedical fluid via an opening (not shown) that after filling is closed,e.g. by welding. In an alternative embodiment, the container is filledby a medical fluid via an opening that subsequently is closed by theconnector 4. The medical product is then sterilized by means of anautoclaving process. During the autoclaving process, the medicalproduct, e.g. including the connector 4 and the container 3, may beintroduced in a closed space in a vessel. A sterilizing gas isintroduced into the space of the vessel, and into the connector 4 viathe small passages 41, 42, 43. The medical fluid in the container 3 issterilized in a manner known per se, e.g. by means of heat generated inthe space. The so sterilized medical fluid will ensure sterilizationalso of the interior of the second connection pipe 12. After theautoclaving process, the medical product is enclosed in an overwrap thatamong other things ensures maintenance of the sterility of the product.

FIGS. 8 to 13 disclose a second embodiment, wherein the valve device 10comprises a first part 21 and a second part 22, which are rotatable inrelation to each other with respect to an axis x′ of rotation to permitan opening movement from a closed stable position, preventing fluidcommunication between the first connection pipe 11 and the secondconnection pipe 12, and an open stable position, see FIG. 13, forming achannel 73, which is defined by inner wall surfaces belonging to thefirst part 21 and the second part 22, respectively. The channel 73permits fluid communication between the first connection pipe 11 and thesecond connection pipe 12. The first connection pipe 11 is provided witha thread, see FIGS. 8 and 9, permitting the removable attachment of acover element 35 of the kind described in conjunction with thedescription of the first embodiment. Also in the second embodiment, thefirst part 21 and the second part 22 are configured to remain in theopen stable position when the open stable position has been obtained.

In the second embodiment, the first part 21 comprises a first abutmentsurface 61 through which the first connection pipe 11 extends via afirst aperture 63. The second part 22 comprises a second abutmentsurface 62 through which the second connection pipe 12 extends via asecond aperture 64. The first and second abutment surfaces 61, 62 arefacing each other at an interface. The abutment surfaces 61, 62 arearranged close to each other so that merely a very thin space remains atthe interface between the abutment surfaces 61, 62. The abutmentsurfaces 61, 62 are rotatable in relation to each other around thecommon axis x′ of rotation. The first aperture 63 and the secondaperture 64 are eccentric with respect to the axis x′ of rotation.Consequently, the first connection pipe 11 and the second connectionpipe 12 are at an angle distance from each other in the closed stableposition but aligned to form the channel 73 extending straight throughthe connector 4 in the open stable position in parallel with the axis x′of rotation.

In the second embodiment disclosed, the first part 21 comprises aprojecting member 65 and the second part 22 a projecting member 66. Theprojecting members 65 and 66 both have a wing-like shape and areconfigured to be engaged by a user as gripping members for performingthe opening and closing movement of the valve device 10. As can be seenfrom FIGS. 8-11, in which the valve device 10 is in the closed stableposition, the projecting members 65, 66 are at an angle distance fromeach other with respect to the axis x′ of rotation. In the open stableposition, see FIG. 13, the projecting members 65, 66 are aligned seen inthe direction of the axis x′ of rotation.

In the second embodiment disclosed, the second part 22 comprises sealingmeans extending through the second abutment surface 62 around the secondaperture 64. The sealing means comprises a groove 67 and a seal element67 a provided in the groove 67. It is to be noted that the sealing meanscould also be provided in the first part 21 to extend through the firstabutment surface 61 around the first aperture 63.

In the second embodiment disclosed, a blocking member 68 is attached tothe first part 21 to cooperate with the projecting member 66 of thesecond part 22 in such a way that the opening movement is prevented aslong as the blocking member 68 is in the blocking state. Also in thesecond embodiment, the blocking member 68 is configured to permit thechanging of the blocking state of the blocking member 68 to thenon-blocking state by a user applying a determined force to the blockingmember 68. The blocking member 68 is configured to permit theapplication of the force directly to the blocking member 68 itself.Moreover, the blocking member 68 is configured in such way that thechanging of the blocking state of the blocking member 68 to thenon-blocking state is performed by removing the blocking member 68 fromthe first part 21, wherein the blocking member 68 is attached to thefirst part 21 via a breakable attachment 69. In the non-blocking state,the first part 21 and the second part 22 are movable by a user applyinga determined force in order to permit a closing movement from the openstable position, disclosed in FIG. 13, back to the closed stableposition.

In the second embodiment, the first part 21 has a circumferential flange70 extending around the first abutment surface 61 and forming areceiving cavity for the second part 22, see FIG. 11. The receivingcavity will determine the space in which the second part may be rotated.Furthermore, the relative rotation of the second part 22 and the firstpart 21 is controlled by a pin 71 protruding from the second abutmentsurface 62 into a curved groove 72 through the first abutment surface61. The ends of the groove 72 determine the open stable position and theclosed stable position, respectively.

In the second embodiment disclosed, the blocking member 68 is attachedto the flange 70 of the first part 21. It is to be noted that theblocking member 68 of the second embodiment also could be attached atanother position of the first part 21 or to the second part 22.

Also the connector 4 of the second embodiment comprises at least onesmall passage 41 through the cover element 35, see FIG. 12, permitting,in the closed stable position, an introduction of a sterilizing gas toan interior of the connector 4 in such a way that the sterilizing gaswill contact the inner wall surfaces defining the channel 73. The smallpassage 41 enables sterilization of the connector 4 before use, i.e.before the blocking state of the blocking member 68 has been changed.Also in the second embodiment, the connector 4 could be sterilizedtogether with the container 3 containing the medical fluid and theoptional second connection portion 2 a, for instance during anautoclaving process. The small passage 41 may extend through the coverelement 35 as described in conjunction with the description of the firstembodiment. Consequently, the inner wall surface of the first connectionpipe 11 and a part of the second abutment surface 62 will thus besubjected to the sterilizing gas.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed but may bevaried and modified within the scope of the following claims.

1. A medical product configured for use in a medical system comprising:a first subsystem having a first connection portion and a secondsubsystem having a second connection portion, at least one of the firstand second subsystems containing a medical fluid, the medical productcomprising a connector configured to connect the first and secondsubsystems to each other to permit transport of the medical fluid fromone of the first and second subsystems to the other of said first andsecond subsystems, the connector comprising: including a valve device; afirst connection pipe connected to the valve device and configured to beconnected to the first connection portion of the first subsystem; and asecond connection pipe connected to the valve device and configured tobe connected to the second connection portion of the second subsystem;the valve device comprising a first part and a second part, said firstand second parts being movable in relation to each other to permit anopening movement from a closed stable position, said closed stableposition preventing fluid communication between the first connectionpipe and the second connection pipe, to an open stable position, saidopening movement to the open stable position forming a channelpermitting fluid communication between the first connection pipe and thesecond connection pipe, wherein the connector comprises at least onesmall passage permitting, in the closed stable position, an introductionof a sterilizing gas, said at least one small passage being configuredto permit the sterilizing gas to contact wall surfaces defining thechannel, wherein the first part comprises a housing through which thechannel extends, said housing comprising a cylinder forming an innerchamber extending transversally to and crossing the channel; wherein thesecond part comprises a piston, said piston being movable in the innerchamber between the closed stable position closing the channel and theopen stable position, in which the channel is open by means of a recessin the piston, the cylinder has a primary end and a secondary end andthe piston has a primary end and a secondary end, said primary end ofthe piston protruding from the primary end of the cylinder in the closedstable position and said secondary end of the piston protruding from thesecondary end of the cylinder in the open stable position.
 2. A medicalproduct according to claim 1, wherein the at least one small passagecomprises a sterilizing groove formed in one of the first part and thesecond part, said sterilizing groove extending to an interior at leastpartly defined by said wall surfaces defining the channel.
 3. A medicalproduct according to claims 1, wherein the medical product furthercomprises a cover element configured to be attached to the firstconnection pipe for protecting an interior of the first connection pipe,said cover element being removable before the first connection pipe isconnected to the first connection portion of the first subsystem.
 4. Amedical product according to claim 3, wherein the at least one smallpassage comprises an aperture extending through the cover element forenabling introduction of the sterilizing gas into the interior of thefirst connection pipe.
 5. A medical product according to claim 1,wherein the second subsystem comprises a container containing themedical fluid, said container being comprised by the medical product andbeing connected to the second connection pipe of the connector.
 6. Amedical product according to claim 1, wherein the at least one smallpassage comprises a sterilizing groove formed in one of an inner wall ofthe cylinder and an outer surface of the piston, said sterilizing grooveextending to the recess when the piston is in the closed stableposition.
 7. A medical product according to claim 1, wherein thesterilizing groove of the small passage extends from the primary end ofthe cylinder to the recess.
 8. A medical product according to claim 7,wherein the piston has a primary end portion provided at the primary endof the piston, said primary end portion being configured to prevent theprimary end of the piston from entering the inner chamber of thecylinder, and a secondary end portion provided at the secondary end ofthe piston, said secondary end portion being configured to prevent thesecondary end of the piston from entering the inner chamber of thecylinder.
 9. A medical product according to claim 8, wherein the pistonis made of a piston material and the cylinder is made of a cylindermaterial, said piston material being softer than the cylinder material.10. A medical product according to claim 9, wherein the piston isprovided with sealing means in order to provide a tight sealing againstan inner wall of the cylinder.
 11. A medical product according to claim10, wherein the sealing means comprises at least one ridge extendingoutwardly from an outer surface of the piston and around an outerperiphery of the piston.